Sina
An Alternate Form of Sinai
Sina is the Greek form of the name Sinai, appearing in Acts 7:38 in the King James Version: "This is he, that was in the church in the wilderness with the angel which spake to him in the mount Sina." Modern translations render this as "Sinai," but the KJV preserves the Greek spelling "Sina" (Greek: Sina). The reference is to Mount Sinai, the sacred mountain where God revealed Himself to Moses and gave the Ten Commandments and the law to Israel.
Stephen's Speech Before the Sanhedrin
The reference to Sina occurs in Stephen's extended speech in Acts 7, the longest recorded speech in the book of Acts. Stephen, one of the seven deacons chosen by the early church (Acts 6:5), was brought before the Jewish council (Sanhedrin) on charges of speaking against the temple and the law of Moses (Acts 6:13-14). In his defense, Stephen surveyed the entire history of Israel, from Abraham to Solomon, demonstrating that God's presence was never confined to a single location or building. When he reached Moses' story, Stephen described how Moses received "living oracles" at Mount Sina to pass on to the people (Acts 7:38).
The Significance of Mount Sinai
Mount Sinai holds unparalleled importance in the biblical narrative as the place where God entered into covenant with the nation of Israel. After delivering the Israelites from Egypt, God led them to this mountain, where He descended in fire and smoke, the earth trembled, and a trumpet sounded from heaven (Exodus 19:16-19). There God spoke the Ten Commandments directly to the people (Exodus 20:1-17) and gave Moses the detailed laws that would govern Israel's worship, justice, and daily life. The covenant made at Sinai defined Israel as God's special people and established the framework for their relationship with Him.
Stephen's Theological Point
By referencing Sina in his speech, Stephen was making a crucial theological argument. His accusers claimed he was blaspheming the law of Moses and the temple. Stephen responded by showing that God had been active and present with His people long before the temple existed. God spoke to Moses at Sinai, in the wilderness, far from any temple or permanent structure. The implication was clear: God's presence cannot be contained in a building, and His purposes continue to unfold beyond the institutions that His people construct. This argument directly challenged the Jerusalem leadership's elevation of the temple to the point where it overshadowed God Himself.
Sinai in Paul's Theology
The apostle Paul also refers to Sinai (using the same Greek form) in Galatians 4:24-25, where he draws an allegorical comparison between Mount Sinai and the covenant of law, contrasting it with the freedom found in the new covenant through Christ. Paul associates Sinai with bondage, the old covenant system that could not save, while pointing to the heavenly Jerusalem as the source of freedom. Together, Stephen's and Paul's references to Sina/Sinai show how the early church understood the relationship between the old covenant given at Sinai and the new covenant inaugurated by Jesus Christ.
Biblical Context
Sina appears in Acts 7:38 (KJV) in Stephen's speech, referring to Mount Sinai where Moses received God's law. The same mountain is referenced extensively in Exodus 19-20, and Paul discusses it allegorically in Galatians 4:24-25. Stephen's speech surveys Israel's history to show that God's presence was never limited to the temple.
Theological Significance
Stephen's reference to Sina demonstrates that God's revelation and presence preceded and transcended the Jerusalem temple. This challenged the religious establishment's exclusive focus on the temple and anticipated the early church's understanding that God's presence now dwells with His people through the Holy Spirit rather than in a physical building.
Historical Background
The Greek form Sina reflects the Hellenistic rendering of the Hebrew name Sinai. The exact location of Mount Sinai remains debated, with Jebel Musa in the southern Sinai Peninsula being the traditional identification since the fourth century AD. Other proposed locations include Jebel al-Lawz in northwestern Saudi Arabia. Stephen's speech was delivered around AD 34-35, making it one of the earliest theological summaries of Israel's history in the Christian tradition.